The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-03-11
miscellaneous.
A MAD ENGINEER.
AN ENGLISH sTOKER,s STORY

| cannot come to any definite conclusion
! Was justified in killing him? If was,
am benefactor to some of my fellow-crea
lures; If was not | am u murderer. Ny
readers shall have an opportunity If Judging
and hope their judgment may be lencnt.
Some years ago, l was well off, and re-
ceived the education and bringing up of q
gentleman; but partly through my own folly
and partly through unfortunate speculations
| lost i'll my capital; and saw starvation
grinning at me within measurable distance
Then determined to attempt no longer tc
keep up appearances, but try and earn II bare
existence in any walk of life that was open
to me. After some frutless efforts and Il good
deal ofthe "h0pe deferred" which "makcth the
heart sick" obtained, through the kindness
OF gentleman connected with the Great
Junction Railway, the position of stUkcr.
never was given to drink, so that was well
enough able TO fulfil the lowly duties of my
position.
On the day when | went through the
most disagreeable experience of my life, |
was travelling from Padlingr,n to Cowches.
| Ter on the well-knOwn-to railway employees
engine named pluto" She is fine, up
standing, bold sort Of engine, and when in
good temper, does her work right well The
englne-driver ON this occasion was man
named John Morgan. had not often travel
led with him before, only two or three times
and never could get on comtol tably with
him. He had been many years in the com
pany's service, and bore m excellent char
actor for seadiness, but was considered
rather tacturn. He seemed to be always in
the sulks, and was, l suppose, of surly tenn
per Before we started, lie hardly answered
any remark addressed to him, and seem
-, Nl,.,, .,,l,. 7 l.
| up cloth to brighten one of Pluto's taps,
lie called out to me in savage tone: "Let
her alone, can't you. She'll travel to-day
without your bothering."
1t was past twelve when we got the signal
to move. There was such crowd of people
ofal classes on the platform that room could
hardly he found for them in the train. How
ever, at last the hcadguard gave us the sig
ma, and Morgan turned the handle, and we
moved slowly and steadily out of the station.
When we got well out into the country,
Morgan turned to me and said shortly /:
"More coal"
Now, in my opinion, no more coal was
wanted, as there was quite enough in the
fire to keep up the usual speed. However, as
a stoker, was only an underling and must
obey reasonable orders. So stocked as bid
den, and then curiously watched to see if the
engine driver would turn on full speed. He
did nothing of the sort, but sat with his back
to the boiler and began TO talk to me quite
affably. There was nothing at this lime
peculiar in his manner, except that lie was
more laxative than usual, and he would now
and then turn half to the engine and
call out: Get on, old girl, get on!" We had
before US run OF an hour and half, and by
that time we were due at Blinton, a big Juno
ton, at which every train must stop.
About an hour and after leaving Padding
ton, Morgan stopped suddenly in the middle
of sentence and said: "Wel must 20 to
work now" Then he opened the firebox
door and called out to me: "More coal"
To pacify him, took up shovelful,
and managed to upset some Of 1t before had
reached the firebox.
"You clumsy fool p hecalled out "here,
give it to me )" and snatching the shovel out
of my hands, he crammed on as much coal as
he could get in.
was beginning 10 get alarmed; and look
ing out over the well-known country
for had Travelled that journey many and
many time before-I saw that we were
much nearer to Blinton than we ought to be
at that hour. However, thought it did not
matter much, for the line was signalled clear
in front of us, and the damage done was, as
yet, simply little waste of coal. In a few
minutes our speed increased enormously, and
l calculated we were travelling at the rate of
seventy miles an hour. l thought it was
time to demonstrate, and turning TO Morgan |
noticed that the indicator showed full speed.
l called his attention TO the fact, and begged
him to reduce the speed, or we should
run into Blnton without being able to
stop.
never going to stop again! told you I'd
make her travel. What do you want to
stop for? Get on, get onr Then he burst
into peal of laughter.
A cold sweat of absolute terror broke out
on me as realized the state of things. Here
was raving maniac, far stronger man
than myself, in charge of train full of peo-
pie. bit my lips and cenched my hands,
and tried to collect my scattered ideas and
decide what was the best to be done. Mean
while, Morgan Sat on rail near the boiler
flourishing a shovel and shouting uproarious-
ly. The train rushed on with incredible
speed, not steadily and evenly, but with leaps
and bounds, that threatened to cast the en-
gine of the line at every yard. There was
no doubt that the man was as mad as man
can be, and he WAS also master of the situa-
ton. made one effort to reach the handle
by which the steam is turned off; but the
LlduIndn WAS tOO ouui u luI NIT. NO, YOU
don't ~ he shouted He brought his shovel
down with tremendous blow on the rail at
my side, just missing my head. 1t was plain
could do nothing by force. Would STRAIT
agem be of any useP looked out to the
country; time was running short; we were
not more then twenty miles from Blinton
Junction; and if we did not stop there, the
whole train must be inevitable wrecked, and
probably not one passenger would escape
uninjured, and but few with lives. looked
back to the train. Outside the windows
hands were gesticulating, and frightened
alarmed faces. AT the end of the train the
guard was waving red flag. Somethingmust
be done, and by me, or we should all be in
evitably lost. made up my mind turned
to Morgan with smile on my face and said :
"Old boy, you're quite right; this is fine
place; but it Amt fast enough. Look here r
and caught him by the arm and led him to
the side of the engine, next 10 the double
rail- "Seep l cried, "there is another
train coming up faster than us and che will
pass us we must go faster; but let's see first
who is driving her; lean forward aud look.
Can you seer"
The poor maniac stepped outside the
rail and leaned forward to look
for the imaginary train, when l gave
him sudden push, ard he fell in Q heap on
the side rails and was killed on the spot.
! With gasp of relief sprapg 10 the engine